Joan Baez Joins White House's Celebration of Civil Rights Music

Joan Baez has been added to "In Performance at the White House: A Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement," a PBS special airing this Thursday, February 11th. Baez joins a lineup that includes her partner at the 1963 March on Washington civil rights rally, Bob Dylan. Three original members of the Freedom Singers — Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, Rutha Harris and Charles Neblett — have also reunited for the "In Performance" special, which will be hosted by President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. The event will feature songs and readings from the Civil Rights era.

Baez and Dylan performed The Times They Are a-Changin' song "When the Ship Comes In" at the March on Washington in 1963, an event that famously included Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. While Baez has been added to the lineup, it's unclear whether or not she and Dylan will perform together. Baez was a member of Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue troupe in 1975 and later toured with the rock poet in 1984.

As Rolling Stone previously reported, John Mellencamp, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Seal, Natalie Cole, John Legend, the Blind Boys of Alabama and Yolanda Adams are also set to perform during the "In Performance" special. Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Queen Latifah and Joanne Woodward will serve as guest speakers for the event, which will air February 11th at 8 p.m. on PBS. "In Performance" will also stream live February 10th at 5:15 p.m. EST. Check back here then to watch the concert below:

Related Stories:
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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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